National Security in the 2020s: Looking Back and Ahead

This event will explore national security and foreign policy in the 2020s, focusing on the key issues and challenges faced during both the Biden and Trump administrations. Moderated by Javed Ali, Associate Professor of Practice at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, the fireside chat will provide valuable insights into the evolving landscape of global security. The discussion will offer a comprehensive look at how these administrations have shaped U.S. foreign policy. It’s a great opportunity to engage with critical topics that are impacting national security today.

From the Speaker's Bio:

John Hudson is a reporter at The Washington Post covering the State Department and national security. He was part of the team that was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for coverage of the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. He has reported from dozens of countries, including Ukraine, China, Afghanistan, India, Georgia, Belarus, Pakistan, Malaysia, Ethiopia, Vietnam, Colombia, Costa Rica, France, Kenya, Nigeria and many more. In 2022 and 2023, he covered the war in Ukraine. In 2008, he covered the war in Georgia. He appears frequently on MSNBC and CNN. Hudson holds a B.A. in International Relations from Michigan State University.

Javed Ali is an associate professor of practice at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, he joined the Weiser Diplomacy Center in 2021. Ali brings more than 20 years of professional experience in national security and intelligence issues in Washington, DC. He held positions in the Defense Intelligence Agency and the Department of Homeland Security before joining the Federal Bureau of Investigation. While at the FBI, he also held senior roles on joint duty assignments at the National Intelligence Council, the National Counterterrorism Center, and the National Security Council under the Trump Administration. Ali holds a BA in political science from the University of Michigan, a JD from the University of Detroit School of Law, and an MA in international relations from American University.

Faculty Expert

Javed Ali

Associate Professor of Practice

Ali is a former senior director for counterterrorism at the National Security Council, with over 20 years of professional experience in national security and intelligence issues in Washington, D.C. He served in the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, where he also held senior positions on joint duty assignments at the National Intelligence Council, the National Counterterrorism Center, and the National Security Council.

Staff Expert

Nayab Ali

Assistant Program Manager, Weiser Diplomacy Center

• Javed Ali
• The Washington Post
• Washington post journalist
• John Hudson
• International Security
• national security
• international journalism